Maryland Recall For I.M. Healthy Soynut Butter Products

ODENTON, MD — The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued a recall for "I.M. Healthy" soy nut butter and all soy nut butter-containing products from "The SoyNut Butter Company" until further notice. These products have been sold to a range of stores in Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County, and are also available online.

Officials are concerned about the possible contamination with E. coli O157 bacteria in these products. This strain of E. coli can cause disease by producing a toxin called Shiga toxin. These bacteria are referred to as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, which can cause bloody diarrhea and a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

STEC symptoms typically begin within three to four days after exposure, but can range from one to ten days. This can also cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a serious complication that occurs in some infected people, particularly children under five and the elderly. In this syndrome, red blood cells are destroyed and kidney failure occurs. Anyone suspecting STEC infection should contact their healthcare provider.

Health and Mental Hygiene officials are working with other states, as well as the CDC and the FDA, to investigate a multi-state cluster of E. coli O157 infections. These infections are closely related genetically, which indicates there's a likely common source such as food.

Due to the long shelf life of "I.M. Healthy" products, consumers should not eat these products until further notice.

These products are currently sold in these stores:

• Safeway at 540 Benfield Rd. in Severna Park
• Giant at573 Gov. Ritchie Hwy in Severna Park
• Target at 7951 Nolpark Ct. in Glen Burnie
• Safeway at 2635 Housley Rd. in Annapolis
• Safeway at 1781 Forest Dr. in Annapolis
• Target at 1911 Towne Centre Blvd. in Annapolis
• Mom's Organic Market at 6824 Race Track Rd. in Bowie
• Giant at 15520 Annapolis Rd. in Bowie
• Target at 4600 Mitchellville Rd. in Bowie
• Safeway at 4101 N. View Dr. in Bowie
• Food Lion at 9741 Piney Orchard Pkwy in Odenton
• David's Natural Market at 871 Annapolis Rd. in Gambrillis
• Safeway at 2466 Chapel Lake Dr. in Gambrillis
• Target at 2384 Brandermill Blvd. in Gambrillis
• Wegmans at 1413 South Main Chapel Way in Gambrillis

Photo: Mike Mozart/Flickr